Walking with Corky 11-26-11

As I said the other day for the last few years I have been taking Corky for his walk around vacant industrial buildings.  My favorite is the 1065 building.  I don't know how many suites are still occupied, there have never been signs on the outside of the building and we usually go on the weekend, so there aren't many cars in the lot. 

The distant building used to be a home decorating place, but it closed about two years ago. Lots of empty parking lot over there - I imagine the cars you see belong to people who parked to car pool.  That building abuts the 91 freeway, so it is easy on and off.

I don't know how to fix this picture to show the abundance of yellow leaves. You might click to enlarge.

This is the opposite side of the building.  The trees closest to the building all around are liquidambers.

Along the perimeter sidewalk are crape myrtles with their wonderful smooth bark.

 
Across the parking lot is the Anaheim Metro Station and beyond the tracks one of the ugliest apartment buildings for miles around.   It is only a few years old, but looks like a leftover from from distant era!

Friends - Liz at November Fest '11 11-25-11

I have been trying to finish up the pictures I took at Surfside Quilters Guild's November Fest '11.  I always take many more pictures than we can use and there are always quite a few that are rejects.  It takes me hours to edit and adjust.  One of the reasons I stopped doing the SQG newsletter is that I wanted to have time to learn PhotoShop Elements, which will make editing photos easier and faster.  But, so far, I have not found the time to get started.   Soon, I hope. 

 
My good friend Liz Williams went to November Fest with me and, as she always does, lent a hand wherever she could.   She also bought some tickets and won a basket that is perfect for her.  She was very excited.  I, on the other hand, bought streams of tickets and did not win any baskets, but I did acquire two special quilts at the live auction.
Liz is a great friend, quick to laugh, always willing to go on an 'adventure', a great companion at a quilt show.  Thanks, Liz - your friendship is so precious to me. 

Black Phoebe (sayornis nigricans) 11-24-11

Corky and I drove out of the neighborhood this afternoon to have a walk in a place that doesn't require so much sniffing and I am not likely to run into anyone who wants to visit. On the way home I turned into Starbuck's (which was closed) to see what birds might be out on Anaheim Lakes, which is beyond the back of the parking lot. There were Canadian geese and coots and some mallards all gathered in the lee of a little hillock - trying to stay out of the cold wind, I expect. A single egret poked about on the edge of the water.

And there was this lone Black Phoebe flying up from his post to catch insects on the wing. Usually phoebes are alone, but sometimes I see three or four sitting on posts, sprinklers or lights at a "hunting distance" from each other.

 

Like many flycatchers they have a pointed head and little hairs that grown at the base of their beak, which surely has something to do with their ability to catch the airborne insects.

 
They are handsome little things, about six inches long, with their "cutaway" black coats over a white vest and stomach. They are frequently seen by water where flying insects are abundant. Their habit of pumping their tail sets them apart from other flycatchers.

Wordless Wednesday 11-23-11

Corky, the Guard Dog 11-22-11

Several weeks ago when Corky was here at Camp Del, he saw a black cat in the backyard and had a fit.  This cat lives two houses to the south and has come around a few times, but the vicious guard dog has not previously spotted it.  I chased the cat away and let Corky out.  He ran out the door and stomped up and down the patio - he reminded me of James Cagney being the big, bad gangster.  Of course, the cat did not return, but I had to let Corky out every hour or so to allow him to sling his weight around and show everyone that this backyard was not be be invaded. 

Even after he was home for four days when he came back he remembered that the slider in the back needed to be guarded from invading cats and he slept there most of the time.  Instead of in one of his comfy beds.  This trip he seems to have forgotten.

 
I ran across this old Peanuts cartoon this week and had to laugh at how appropriate it is.  Of course, Corky guards both back and front when he is here - just ask the mail carrier!   I must defend myself when the Poodle Prince is not here - this week I have five days of protection.

Monday Browsing 11-21-11

Miner's Lettuce near Kalispell, Montana  2005
The photo has no connection to this post - I just like it!

International Quilt Festival – Houston 2011


There are lots of pictures on Blogs of the quilts at International Quilt Festival - Houston.  I just show a few, but you can spend an afternoon looking at various sites - just Google
"International Quilt Festival blogs".
http://www.flickr.com/photos/luanarubin/sets/72157627991559171/   from eQuilter

http://fiberreflections.blogspot.com/   See posts for Nov 14, 15, 16 from Teddy Minton


http://helenkamphuis.blogspot.com/2011/11/international-quilt-festival-houston.html  from a Dutch quiltmaker


http://kristinlaflamme.com/musings/  See posts for Nov 10, 11, 13 from a Hawaiian quiltmaker


Machine Quilting Unlimited Magazine is of interest to both home machine and longarm machine quilters. On their website I found the interviews with various Quiltmakers and also the how-to videos of interest. http://mqumag.com/  Click on “Web Extras”


Don’t forget the second week of the online auction being offered by The Alliance For American Quilts. The week runs from Mon, Nov. 21 at 6pm PST to Mon, Nov. 28 at 6pm PST.
Try:  http://tinyurl.com/7q56xso

Or use the long one:            http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=8488&name&id=8488&status=102&type=NONPROFIT&itemId&pageSize=10&pageIndex=3&sortOrder=11#buynp

Djianne Cevaal quilt in TCQC 11-20-11

This is such a happy quilt - I smile when I look at it.  The New Zealand influence is obvious, but it is Dijanne's quilting that makes it a special quilt.  I like the unexpectedness of the green in some of the red dots and the one green triangle on each pinwheel. 

"Kiwi Fun"  Djanne Cevaal 2003  16"W x 32"L

Machine applique, machine quilting. 

Previous posting at:  http://tinyurl.com/mr2x4au

The smaller label is for TCQC.

 
This is all the label Dijanne put on this quilt.  I like that it has the contact, but, unfortunately, she has moved and this address is no longer valid.   Could have used the date and the size, I guess I will add them.  Check out Dijanne's Blog at:  http://origidij.blogspot.com/

Missing another tree. 11-19-11

Every year when I go up to see my friends Mary and Joe in San Juan Bautista I take a picture of this Lombardy Poplar towering over the surrounding trees.  This year it was gone.